The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20
Graphic Description of the Old Mans Manner
and Method-A Tempestuous Speaker
Who Requires Plenty of Elbow Room.
Facts About District Assembly 40 and
the Men Who Manage Its Affairs.
Prospective Fight Among Methodists of the
Freedmen's Aid Society Socialistic Ideas
Put in Practice in Restaurant.
OGLESBY'S SPEECH.

Western Orator Who AstOnished the Mild
hammered Takers of the East.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK, Feb. 19.-There are great many
after dinner speakers in New York, and there is
an infinite variety in their style of oratory: but
no man in this town ever approached, even in a
remote degree, the manner Of Governor Oglesby,
Of Illinois. He was a revelation to the diners of
the Republican Club at their big dinner. the
other night, at Delmonicos. He has smooth
shaven, highly -colored face, is of impressive
physique and his cheeks puff far out beyond his
big spectacles. When he began his manner was
difident and he seemed to. have difficulty in
choosing his words. but after he had worked
into the swing of his speech his excitement arose
with the occasion, his face resumed roseate
hue. and he began to roar with voice that
would have struck terror to a wildcat blizzard
He cleared the plates away from the table in
front of him for distance of several feet on
either side, and strobe up and down. twisting
his body around and humping the table with
his big fists with vim that made the glassware
ring When he announced that with ticket
headed by respectable men they could cheat all
hell and the Democratic party" he hit the table
clip that caused the Alsatian walters in the
background to turn pale with apprehension.
doubt if more striking contrast to Gov
ernor Oglesby could be found among the after
dinner speakers Of the world than the inan who
sat on his right Chauncey NJ. Depew, who has
gained so much fame as an after-dinner
speaker, is neither eloquent nor noisy usually
he stands easily with one hand resting on his
hip, and makes his points with the deliberation
and care Of the comedian of stock company.
| He has the brightest eye in the world for man
of his age, and just before ne comes to the
point of any Of his humorous stories his eve
| takes queer CLEAN that warns his hearers
of what is coming Hence, half the time the
| laughter begins long before MIR. Depew has
reached the joke.
A speaker who is invariably spoken Of as elo
of an Oglesby, with the refinement of Depew
and when he has once started in one of his
favorte subjects-"The Ladies'" for instance
or women. according to the fancy of the toast
| master-he rushes through with an impetuosity
| that carries everything before him.
Every body is talking about the Republican
Club, and. apparently, the talk is never to end.
| The papers say good deal about the triumph
| of Foraker, but the sensation of the night waf
undoubtedly the vigorous Oglesby. His speech
might have been called t-iumphal march, fol
when he started to the right in his trip along the
table during his speech, he first encountered
! Mr. Depew Governor Oglesby waved his arms
around Mr.. Depew's head, and pounded around
| that genteman's plate until the big railroad
magnate moved back to give the orator more
room. The Governor stepped into the vacan
place and stormed around there until Presiden
| j. P. Foster felt that he was in the way, and he
time Oglesby was ranging up and down tn
| table at a rate that nothing could balk, and b.
rounded up against Senator Joseph r. Hawle.
with such force and impetuosity that the Sena
tor. too. retired amid yell of laughter from til
amused diners Oglesby now had eight feet t
swing himself in, bounded on the south by Gov
ernor Foraker. The latter made q determine
fight. He lodged here and there, avoiding tn
sweep of the Oglesby arms. and cringing be
meath the shelter of the back Of his chair
Foraker's struggle was brave one, but he wa
routed, and presently moved back and Joined tn
contingent of distinguished gentlemen who ss
helplessly against the wall.
The Republican Club bids fair to be rival c
the Union League in time It began as an OF
ganization devoted to assisting elections at til
primaries. It had occasional meetings over
chop house on Twenty-seventh street, and fror
this humble beginning sprang into what ha
proved to be a remarkably successful and Unfit
| entail club. BLAKELY HALL.